ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore and the Board of Public Works today advanced a critical resource sharing agreement to further expand high-speed internet access in Western Maryland. After an initial state investment of $250,000, the agreement will grant the State access to approximately 26 miles of fiber optic cable along rural and underserved areas in Allegany and Garrett counties—worth $3.5 million in total in-kind value to the state.
“Since Day One, our administration has been committed to expanding access to high-speed internet to all Marylanders, because connectivity is not a luxury—it is a necessity,”
said Gov. Moore. “This new agreement is a direct investment in the future of Western Maryland, ensuring our families, students, and businesses in Allegany and Garrett counties have the robust, high-speed internet access they need to thrive.”
The agreement between the Maryland Department of Information Technology and the Maryland Broadband Cooperative, Incorporated—a ‘middle-mile’ fiber optic network—gives the State of Maryland exclusive access to fiber optic cable running through Western Maryland. The fiber optic network passes 17 state-owned towers, 15 Maryland Department of Transportation intelligent transportation system devices, 473 unserved and underserved homes and businesses, as well as 48 community anchor institutions—creating new opportunities for cost-effective public and private-sector connections through future ‘last-mile’ investments.
“Marylanders must be able to get online to access the State's digital services,”
said Maryland Department of Information Technology Secretary Katie Savage. “Through this creative resource-sharing agreement, we are showing how the State can reduce investment costs for internet service providers while saving taxpayer dollars. With a little planning and partnership, we can reduce costs, eliminate inefficiencies, and bridge the digital divide across our state.”
The type of resource-sharing agreement modified today allows private companies and the State to share fiber optic infrastructure—such as towers, rights of way, rooftops, and bridges—in exchange for monetary compensation or in-kind exchange. The State’s framework for these agreements saves time and money by reducing the need to build new fiber optic infrastructure. The programs also help save taxpayer dollars, with the Maryland Department of Information Technology’s Statewide Resource Sharing Agreement program saving the State approximately $50 million annually.
###